When most of us head to the drug store to pick out a bottle of sun screen, we assume that the higher the SPF, or sun protective factor, the better. The higher the SPF sunscreen we choose, the more protected we are from the suns harmful rays, but are we doing more harm than good when we reach for the SPF 70 instead of the 35? Here are a few helpful pointers you can incorporate into your next trip to the drug store so that you make the best choice for you and your skin.
Before we look at what SPF is best for you and your skin, let’s take a look at exactly what the SPF ratings on the particular bottles of sun block mean. If you have a bottle of SPF 20 or SPF 30, those numbers indicate how long you can stay in the sun without getting a sun burn compared to how long it would take you to get burned without any sun block on at all. For instance, if it normally takes you 20 minutes to get a burn with no sun block on, than a SPF 20 sun block will allow you to stay in the sun twenty times longer than normal. Of course, it is extremely important to note here, that most sun block products wear off and need to be reapplied in as little as three hours (some are longer with four or five hour limits). So assuming that with one application you can stay in the sun all day long without getting burned is completely incorrect.
So, will your choice in SPF impact the amount you have to spend on anti aging cream and other such products later in life? As it turns out, no. The SPF really has no direct impact on your future use of them, but how you use them might. According to experts, the biggest problems when it comes to sun block are how it is applied and when it is applied. Every type of sun block is different, but it is always important to read the back label to see when and how it should be applied. Most sun block products require that you put it on 15 or even 20 minutes before going outside. You wouldn’t waste expensive products by not applying it properly, yet people do the same thing with sun block every day.
You also want to have your sun block applied by someone else, if possible. They will do a far better job of applying it evenly over your body so that you don’t end up with a patchwork burn. As for choosing the right SPF, you don’t really need anything more than a 15 or 30. In fact, most brands are discontinuing their higher SPF sun block products because they simply aren’t needed. If you want to reduce the amount of anti aging cream you will need later in life, head out today and buy some sun block.
Leave a Reply